As I walked back down the road I came to one of the posts of the motor-machine-gunners who were there on guard.

They were just having tea outside and kindly invited me to join them.

We had a delightful conversation on poetry and literature, but were prepared to beat a hasty retreat into the dugout in case the Germans took to shelling the road, which they did every evening.
Railway Dugouts was always a pleasant place to visit, there were so many men there.

As one passed up and down the wooden walk which ran the length of the embankment there were many opportunities of meeting one's friends.

On the other side of it, however, which was exposed to the German shells, the men frequently had a hard time in getting up to the line.
There were several interesting chateaus in the neighbourhood.